Candlestick Patterns

The most common candlestick patterns, each with a clear diagram: what they look like, what they suggest about buyers and sellers, and what traders look for before trusting them. Start with the cheat sheet below, or pick a pattern.

Hammer patternHammerLong lower wick after a declineShooting star patternShooting starLong upper wick after a riseDoji patternDojiOpen = close: indecisionEngulfing patternEngulfingSecond body covers the firstMorning star patternMorning starThree-candle turn (and evening star)

How a candlestick works

Anatomy of a bullish and bearish candlestick: open, high, low, close, body and wicks

Each candle shows four prices for its time period: the open, high, low and close. The thick part (the body) runs from open to close; the thin lines (wicks or shadows) reach the high and low. On this site’s diagrams, hollow candles closed higher than they opened and filled candles closed lower; on most screens these are green and red. More in how to read candlestick charts.

Candlestick patterns cheat sheet

PatternCandlesUsually read as
Hammer1Bullish reversal
Inverted hammer1Bullish reversal
Hanging man1Bearish reversal
Shooting star1Bearish reversal
Doji1Indecision
Dragonfly doji1Bullish after a decline
Gravestone doji1Bearish after a rise
Bullish engulfing2Bullish reversal
Bearish engulfing2Bearish reversal
Morning star3Bullish reversal
Evening star3Bearish reversal

Single, double and triple candle patterns

Context matters more than the pattern

The same candle can mean different things depending on where it appears. A hammer after a long fall at a known support level gets attention; the same shape in the middle of a sideways range means little. Traders usually look at the trend before the pattern, nearby support and resistance, and the next candle for confirmation.

For larger shapes made of many candles, such as head and shoulders or flags, see chart patterns.

Finding it on TradingView

TradingView has built-in candlestick pattern indicators that mark patterns on the chart for you. Click Indicators at the top of the chart and search for the pattern name. You can also practise spotting patterns on past price action with Bar Replay, which hides the candles to the right so you can’t see what came next.

No pattern is a guarantee. Patterns describe how buyers and sellers behaved; they don’t predict the next move on their own, and they fail often. Traders usually wait for confirmation, look at where the pattern forms (after a trend, at support or resistance), and decide their exit before they enter. Size the trade with the position size calculator.

FAQ

What are candlestick patterns?
Shapes formed by one to three candles on a price chart that traders use to read the balance between buyers and sellers, such as the hammer, doji and engulfing patterns.
What is the most reliable candlestick pattern?
No pattern is reliable on its own. Traders give more weight to patterns that form after a clear trend, at support or resistance, and that are confirmed by the next candle.
What do hollow and filled candles mean?
A hollow candle closed higher than it opened (bullish); a filled candle closed lower (bearish). Many charts use green and red instead.
How many candlestick patterns are there?
Dozens have names, but a handful of common ones (hammer, shooting star, doji, engulfing, morning and evening star) cover most of what traders look for.

More free TradingView tools

Chart PatternsHead and shoulders, double tops, flags and wedges explained. How to Read CandlesticksOpen, high, low, close, bodies and wicks explained. Support and ResistanceHow price levels act as floors and ceilings. Bar Replay GuideHow Bar Replay works and how far back each plan can replay.
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